I left a career as a sports physiotherapist working in professional football as I’ve always had a passion for teaching and research. Six years on from working with Premier League footballers, I am now able to inspire the next generation of physiotherapists.
It’s a tremendous honour and a fantastic accolade to be awarded a National Teaching Fellowship. It is excellent recognition of some of the work we are doing at Teesside.
Personally, this award reinforces my belief in the learning and teaching strategies I have implemented and been part of at Teesside University. As a department and team, we are striving to push the boundaries of excellence and it is humbling to be recognised in this way.
I came to Teesside as I felt it was the right place to learn and develop my own career through the expertise and willingness of staff to engage and believe in the University mission.
Teesside is a great place for both staff and students to study, develop and challenge. We have a supportive culture and are dedicated to improving the lives of our students and the local community. Being part of the University 2025 journey is an exciting honour.
As a National Teaching Fellow, being part of a prestigious community will enable networking and knowledge exchange. I will continue to develop our teaching initiatives to support our graduates to be the very best they can be and succeed in their chosen careers long after they have left Teesside.
The award will help to provide a platform to continue to push the boundaries of how I teach and by placing students at the heart of everything I do. It is fantastic recognition which also provides a foundation to continuously develop initiative practice to provide high quality education for my students.
Find out more about the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme
Paul is also a trustee of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Charitable Trust and is a board member of the North East Musculoskeletal Society. His research interests include hamstring injury prevention, pain education, musculoskeletal injury management and the impact of training load. He is currently involved in collaborative research with professional football clubs and researchers from higher education institutions.